CLEVELAND, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Carlos Santana hit a pinch-hit home run as the lead-off man in the ninth inning Friday, giving Cleveland a 6-5 victory over Minnesota.
The Indians twice came from behind to tie it and then let a 5-4 lead slip away in the seventh before Santana came through against Matt Capps.
Minnesota's loss kept alive the surprising possibility that the Twins, winners of the American League Central title the previous two years, might lose 100 games in 2011. Four losses in their final six games would bring the Twins that dubious distinction.
A two-run homer by Jim Thome drew Cleveland into a 4-4 tie in the third and an RBI single by Matt LaPorta in the sixth gave the Indians their first lead of the game. Minnesota tied it in the seventh on Rene Tosoni's run-scoring double.
Chris Parmelee drove in three runs for the Twins, two of them coming on a first-inning single and another on a third-inning homer.
Santana's homer made a winner out of Chris Perez (4-7) who retired the side in order in the top of the ninth. Capps (4-7) gave up the game-winning blast on the only pitch he threw.
